Status and availability

All modes (Imaging, Lo-Res and Hi-Res Spectroscopy) have been commissioned and are available for use.
See the current Call for Proposals and semester schedules for further details, including estimates of when T-ReCS is likely to be mounted on the telescope during the coming semester.

Extraordinary opportunity for additional T-ReCS observations in 2012B

We have a small window of opportunity for additional T-ReCS observations to be taken at Gemini South between Sept 24 and Oct 9, 2012. To make effective use of this telescope time, we are soliciting suggestions from the community.

As a result of a mechanical failure with GMOS-S*, we have a temporary hole in the GS queue for image quality conditions that are not sufficient for NICI observations (IQ85 or worse). T-ReCS is still available on the telescope for 2 more weeks, until October 9th. Therefore, Gemini invites the community to submit targets immediately, for observation with T-ReCS between September 24 and October 9, 2012.

Targets must be visible now (~22<RA<~5), and observable in moderate to poor seeing conditions (IQ-85%, or ~0.4" or worse in N-band), and should not have matching observations in the Gemini Science Archive. There is no restriction on cloud cover and water vapor conditions. Target requests should be submitted by email to the Gemini South Head of Science Operations, Bernadette Rodgers at Bernadette Rodgers at brodgers@gemini.edu, along with a very brief (few sentences) justification for observing the target and contact information for the person responsible for defining the observation. All observations will be executed from a common program with zero proprietary period, so the data will be publicly available in the GSA shortly after they are observed. These observations will be lower priority than programs in the queue, however, based on recent seeing conditions on Cerro Pachon there is a reasonable chance that some will be executed.

Before sending suggestions, please confirm target visibility, availability of guide stars, and exposure times with the Observing Tool and the online Integration Time Calculator. The PIT also has a feature to check the GSA for existing observations. An OT xml file may be attached to the email defining the observations, but this is not required. If the targets are added to the program, Gemini staff will be in touch with you to define the observations in the OT. Suggestions of unobserved targets from previous T-ReCS programs are welcome; please specify if this is the case (with program id) in the email.

We look forward to your suggestions!

Cheers,

Bernadette

UPDATE 2012A

With the introduction of FLAMINGOS-2 and GSAOI to the Gemini South (GS) suite of instruments, T-ReCS will be retired from GS at the end of the 2012A Semester. T-ReCS has been offered on GS since 2003B and has completed > 3000 observations during that time (almost one observation a day everyday for ~9yrs). At present there are no plans to decommission MICHELLE, the Gemini North mid-IR instrument. The Gemini Science and Technology Advisory Committee is discussing the question of the future of T-ReCS and of MIR on Gemini in general, and will make a recommendation to the Observatory in the coming months.